Evaluating sources is a key part of your research. Not all sources are created equal! As a general rule of thumb, the vast majority- if not all- resources that you cite in your academic papers should be scholarly. However, there are certainly times when using popular, non-scholarly sources would be appropriate.
Butler University's Guide to Evaluating Resources is an excellent resource so be sure to take a look.
Evaluating Resources Videos & Tutorials
Video: Evaluating Sources
Use this video to encourage students to think critically about the information they encounter in print and online. Students will become familiar with strategies for evaluating sources based on these criteria: authority, accuracy, currency, relevance, and objectivity
Students will learn how to evaluate a range of resources in order to select the most authoritative sources on their research topic.
Use this video to introduce students to the concept of authority, how it relates to research, source selection, evaluation, and attribution.
Video: Introduction to Bias
This video introduces the idea of bias and prejudice and the importance of awareness of one’s own bias and the bias of others when evaluating sources and situations, and responding to arguments.
Video: Types of Bias
This video builds on the introduction to bias video by discussing specific types of bias such as social bias, confirmation bias, and communal reinforcement.
Scholarly Articles
